In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day the students and staff of Wayne State University have planned a weeklong celebration honoring the late civil rights leader.

The highlight will be Celebration Read-a-thon, the continuous reading of King's sermons, speeches, lectures and other writings beginning at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in the Undergraduate Library Atrium.

"We want to honor this great man through the continual reading of his words," said Rick Earnest, assistant director of the dean of students, who coordinated the event.

Members of the WSU student council, the NAACP Student Chapter and other university organization members will read in five- to 10-minute increments for eight straight hours.

Earnest hopes to expand the activity to 24 hours next year.

Other activities include:

• Monday, Jan. 19 - Students have an opportunity to work alongside Project Volunteer when the organization sends them "Into the Streets" to offer their assistance in the community.
• Monday, Jan. 19 - The Delta Omicron Annual African Composer's Concert is at 3 p.m. at the Schaver Musical Recital Hall in Old Main. The concert is free.
• Tuesday, Jan. 20 - A "Rally and Peace Walk" sponsored by the NAACP Student Chapter begins at noon with speeches on Gullen Mall followed by a walk around campus.
• Thursday. Jan. 22 - Detroit Free Press Columnist Rochelle Riley will give a speech and sign her book at noon at the Undergraduate Library.
  

For more information on any of these programs, call the WSU Dean of Students Office at (313) 577-1010.

Wayne State University is a premier institution offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.